

Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!
Thank you for signing up to Marie Claire. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
- Emily Ratajkowski—also known as Emrata—shared an adorable childhood photo on Instagram.
- Ratajkowski captioned the photo, "A mood."
- Ashley Graham commented on the cute throwback pic, writing, "Aw lil Em," while Lena Dunham posted, "So cute."
Think, for a moment, about the photographic outcomes of your middle school picture days. Perhaps you tried a bold new hairstyle, and found out when the photos came back that it was an admirable but ultimately misguided experiment. Perhaps the camera flash reflected off your braces, rendering your mouth a washed out, glowing oval. Maybe you made a sincere effort to cover your acne with the first concealer you could lay your hands on, and ended up with a face full of poorly blended splotches several shades off your actual skin tone.
Unsurprisingly, that was not the case for Emily Ratajkowski! The supermodel shared a throwback snap from a childhood photoshoot on Instagram, and looked like, well, a baby supermodel. Behold:
A post shared by Emily Ratajkowski (@emrata)
A photo posted by on
While Emrata didn't specify when the photo was taken, it may well be a professional headshot taken to advance her childhood acting aspirations—she signed with Ford Models at 14, "as a way to get into acting," the New York Times reports. According to the newspaper, Ratajkowski "would model once or twice a month while getting small television roles, including a stint on 'iCarly.'"
It was typecasting that turned Emrata off acting: "I was so tired of auditioning for the bitchy girl in high school," she told the newspaper. Thus, after leaving UCLA to model full time, a future supermodel was born. Listen: Just try not to compare your middle school photos too harshly to Ratajkowski's. You really did your best with that side ponytail, and I'm proud of you for trying.
For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.
RELATED STORIES
Marie Claire Newsletter
Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

Emily Dixon is a British journalist who’s contributed to CNN, Teen Vogue, Time, Glamour, The Guardian, Wonderland, The Big Roundtable, Bust, and more, on everything from mental health to fashion to political activism to feminist zine collectives. She’s also a committed Beyoncé, Kacey Musgraves, and Tracee Ellis Ross fan, an enthusiastic but terrible ballet dancer, and a proud Geordie lass.
-
Sen. Dianne Feinstein Dies at 90
The liberal icon was the longest-serving woman in the Senate, known for championing gun control as well as protecting the environment and reproductive rights.
By Tanya Benedicto Klich
-
Power Pick: The Sneaker That We're Wearing With All Our Fall ’Fits
It’s ultra comfortable.
By Anneliese Henderson
-
Yes, You Can Apply Retinol To Your Whole Body—Not Just Your Face
A dermatologist gives us the run-down.
By Gabrielle Ulubay
-
Sarah Hyland and Adam Devine Play 'How Well Do You Know Your Co-Star?'
The 'Modern Family' stars reunited for the 'Pitch Perfect' spinoff series.
By Brooke Knappenberger
-
The 78 Best Celebrity Couple Halloween Costumes of All Time
Honestly, we're impressed.
By Charlotte Chilton
-
Super Rare Photos of Queen Elizabeth as a Young Woman
From childhood snapshots to portraits as a young princess, beautiful and rare photos of the late Queen Elizabeth as a young woman.
By Mehera Bonner
-
King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla's Relationship: A Timeline
With the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, Charles has ascended to the throne as king.
By The Editors
-
Who Is Next in Line for the British Throne, Explained
And yes—Harry and Archie are still in the line of succession.
By Andrea Park
-
Who Is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Fiancé Riley Roberts?
AOC's husband-to-be is an "easygoing redhead" who lives with her in D.C.
By Katherine J. Igoe
-
68 Times the Kardashians Posed Fully Nude and Owned It
And we mean fully nude—as in, not a shred of clothing.
By Bianca Rodriguez
-
Who Is Jonathan Owens, Simone Biles's Fiancé and NFL Player?
"The easiest yes!" Simone wrote about the couple's engagement.
By The Editors